What does FAST mean in HEALTHCARE

What Does FAST Stand For

The acronym FAST stands for Facial Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulty, Time (To Call Emergency Services). These are key signs that indicate the possibility of stroke that should not be ignored or overlooked.

Facial Drooping:Facial drooping refers to any changes in facial structure or expression due to paralysis on one side of the face, or impairment in facial muscles. The face may look asymmetrical with one side drooping more than other or difficulty making expressions such as smiling.

Arm Weakness:Arm weakness refers to decreased strength or difficulty in raising both arms up at the same level due to weakness or numbness on one side of the body which is a sure sign of stroke. This sign can also be seen if there is difficulty maintaining arm positions like holding out arms extended for 10 seconds without dropping them down.

Speech Difficulty:Speech difficulties refer to any abnormality in speech production such as slurring words, inability to speak clearly, producing incorrect words that doesn't make sense and poor understanding of what others are saying during conversation. One may also note difficulty forming words due to incoherence between muscle movement and thought process indicating underlying neurological damage caused by stroke..

Time To Call Emergency Services:Finally Time To Call Emergency Services means stroked patients should be immediately rushed into medical care seeking professionals who can provide appropriate clinical help before its too late leading into permanent disability from complications due to delayed medical attention . Timely recognition of signs and symptoms along with quick response time saves patient from further deterioration resulting from strokes